Floating solar pool heater

ABSTRACT

A soft, flexible, solar pool heater for floating on water generally comprises independently inflatable outer ring and central portion. When chamber and cavity are inflated, the cavity is with the top and bottom planes of the ring. The ring can be inflated with water for holding the heater in a pool in winds. Holes through the central portion permit egress of air from under the central portion when the heater is placed on water. Valves for chamber and cavity are located near one edge such that the heater may be deflated by rolling from an edge opposite the valves. Magnets on the ring condition water and attach to similar floating heaters to form rafts.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 12/932,531filed on Feb. 28, 2011, which was a Continuation-In-Part of applicationSer. No. 11/507,918 filed on Aug. 22, 2006, which was aContinuation-In-Part of application Ser. No. 10/875,933 filed on Jun. 6,2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,093,593.

DESCRIPTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to the heating of pools ofwater. More particularly, the present invention relates to a floatingsolar pool heater which utilizes the energy of the sun to impart radiantheat energy into the pool.

2. Background of the Invention

It is desirable to cover pools, such as swimming pools, for variousreasons, such as preventing evaporation and heat loss, and providingsolar heating. Conventional pool covers have several shortcomings. Heavycovers are expensive. They are large and bulky and not easily used orstored. Pool covers of light material, such as of bubble pack type,typically cover an entire pool and project over the decking foranchoring the cover and preventing the cover from falling into the pool.Such covers are subject to winds that often lift them so as to dislocateor actually move the covers from the pool areas to other areas, e.g.neighbor's yard. Winds can pull such large light pool covers from undersand bags, and/or steel pipes as are commonly used. Further, any largecover can be dangerous for small children or animals, which can betrapped underneath.

Smaller solar pool heaters of the floating type have been proposed, butnone appear to be marketed. The ones proposed have severaldisadvantages. Many have hard or rigid parts that are dangerous should aperson fall into the pool and that make them bulky and difficult tostore. Some of the larger ones have large air chambers that wouldencourage convection and heat loss. The lighter ones would tend to flyaway in the wind. In general, they are bulky to store, difficult todeploy, and difficult to retrieve and remove.

Therefore, there it is desirable to have an improved floating poolheater that overcomes shortcomings in the prior art.

Magnets and magnetic fields have been known to treat water. Examples ofmagnetic treatment devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,951,807 and4,153,559 in the name of Charles H. Sanderson and U.S. Pat. No.5,059,296 to Mark Sherman. The magnet is said to condition the water byaltering various minerals suspended in the water and to reduce theamount of oxidizer, such as chlorine, required.

Therefore, it is further desirable that the improved floating poolheater incorporate magnets for conditioning the water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a soft, flexible, solar pool heater for floating onwater and it generally comprises an inflatable outer ring and aninflatable central portion. The ring defines a chamber for holdingfluid, such as air or water. The central portion is disposed centrallythe ring and includes a periphery connected to the ring and an upperfilm and a lower film joined to the upper film to define a cavity forinflation with air. When chamber and cavity are inflated, the cavity iswithin the top and bottom planes of the ring. The chamber and the cavityare independently inflatable such that the ring can be inflated withwater for holding the heater in a pool in winds.

Holes through the central portion permit egress of air from under thecentral portion when the heater is placed on water such that the lowerfilm rests substantially on the water.

Valves for chamber and cavity are located near one edge such that theheater may be deflated by rolling from an edge opposite the valves.

Magnets on the ring condition water and attach to similar floatingheaters to form rafts.

The features and advantages of the invention will be readily understoodwhen the detailed description thereof is read in conjunction with thedrawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the solar poolheater of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a plurality of solar pool heaters of FIG. 1in use in a swimming pool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a top plan view of apreferred embodiment of the solar pool heater 10 of the invention, FIG.2 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is anenlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a topplan view of a plurality of solar pool heaters 10 of FIG. 1 in usefloating on water 95 in a swimming pool 90.

Heater 10 is soft and flexible so as to prevent no hazard should aperson fall onto one either in pool 90 or outside of pool 90. Heater 10generally comprises an outer ring 20 and central portion 50. A preferredembodiment of heater 10 is primarily constructed of upper film 14, suchas upper film 14R of ring 20 and upper film 14C of central portion 50,and lower film 16, such as lower film 16R of ring 20 and lower film 16Cof central portion 50. The film may be of thin plastic, such as ofvinyl, bonded, such as by radio frequency bonding, at bonds 18 so as toform the general structure.

Outer ring 20 includes upper film 14R and lower film 16R bonded at bonds18R to define a chamber 22 that is inflatable or turgesible with afluid, such as a gas, such as air, or a liquid, such as water, such aspool water, through a valve, such as valve 23. Valve 23 may be anyconventional valve, such as a bore and a stopper, which can controlingress and egress of fluid to and from chamber 22. Outer ring 20includes a radially outward side 30, a radially inward side 34, a top36, and a bottom 38. Top 36 and bottom 38 of ring 20 generally definespaced parallel planes.

Central portion 50 is disposed centrally of outer ring 20 and includesan upper film 14C, and a lower film 16C joined, such as around itsperiphery 59, to upper film 14C to define a cavity 52 therebetween forholding gas. Cavity 52 has an area in top view. Periphery 59 of centralportion 50 is connected to ring 20, such as to radially inward side 34.Inflation and deflation means, such as valve 53, controls ingress andegress of gas, such as air, with cavity 52. When cavity 52 is inflatedwith air, heater 10 will float on water 95. Preferably, central portion50 contains a single inflatable cavity 52 to facilitate inflation anddeflation.

Connection means, such as plurality of spot welds 60, connect upper film14C and lower film 16C central of periphery 59 such that upper film 14Cand lower film 16C of cavity 52 are held in proximity and preferablyheld, as seen in FIG. 3, within the planes defined by the top 36 andbottom 38 of ring 20, when chamber 22 and cavity 52 are inflated withair and heater 10 is placed on the ground. This ensures: that heater 10lies properly on water 95; that films 14C, 16C are held in closeproximity for superior solar heating properties; and that heaters 10 arestackable when inflated. Close spacing of films 14C, 16C decreases heatloss from convection. Many other connection means, such as webbing orweld lines, are possible. However, welds allow the use of just two filmsand spot welds 60 provide the most area for cavity 52 while stillholding films 14C, 16C in close proximity. Spot welds 60 are disposed ina grid so as to shape upper film 14C into an array of convex surfaces; aconvex surface being located between each four welds 60. Each convexsurface acts as a lens for intensifying the solar heating effect onlower film 16C. Chamber 22 and cavity 52 are inflatable and deflatableindependently of each other.

Central portion 50 includes air escape means, such as a plurality ofpassages, such as through-holes 65 near periphery 59 and in the centerof central portion 50, for allowing air to escape from below centralportion 50 when heater 10 is deployed on water 95 and for allowing wateron the top of central portion 50, such as from rain or from a decorativewater fall, to drain. Holes 65 may be evenly spaced, such as every sixtydegrees around the circumference of heater 10. Upon deployment,entrapped air under central portion 50 substantially escapes upwardthrough holes 65 such that the center of central portion 50 sagsslightly and central portion 50 is substantially in contact with water95. Because of the flexibility of heater 10, at proper inflation, heater10 will conform to waves in pool 90 so as to keep new air from enteringunder central portion.

Magnetic means, such as a plurality of spaced magnets 40, are connectedto radially outward side 30 of ring 20, for conditioning water 95 andfor releasably joining to magnetic means of other heaters 10 to join aplurality of heaters 10 to form a raft 11, as seen in FIG. 4. Magnets 40may be uniformly spaced, such as every sixty degrees. When heater 10 isfloating, magnet 40 is in contact with water 95 and produces a magneticfield in water 95 for conditioning water 95. Magnets 40 may be bondedbetween upper and lower film 14, 16. Magnets 40 of floating heaters 10tend to attach to magnets 40 of other similar floating heaters 10 toform rafts 11. Rafts 11 facilitate removable of heaters 10 from pool 90,because when one heater 10 near pool side 92 is grasped the otherheaters 10 in its raft 11 will also be pulled to pool side 92 as thegrasped heater 10 is pulled out. Floating heaters 10 in a raft 11 areeasily separated by a person in pool 90 such that a person falling intopool 95 is not trapped under raft 11. Heaters 10 may help float a personwho accidentally falls into pool 90.

Heater 10 includes hanging means, such as hanger 45 attached to radiallyoutward side 30 of ring 20, for hanging heater 10, such as on a peg on awall, during storage. Hanger 45 may be constructed of bonded upper andlower film 14, 16 having a bore therethrough.

As described above, chamber 22 of outer ring 20 and cavity 52 of centralportion 50 can be made from just two films, upper film 14 and lower film16 welded together. Vinyl is the preferred film, but other films couldbe used. Preferably, upper film 14 has high transmissivity of sunlightso light easily enters chamber 22 and cavity 52. Upper film 14 may beclear plastic, such as 0.006″ thick vinyl. Preferably, lower film 16 hashigh absorptivity of sunlight and is stronger, for puncture resistance.Lower film 16 may be 0.008″ thick vinyl of dark color, such as blue.Preferably, films 14, 16 are resistant to breakdown from ultravioletlight.

Upper film 14 may be modified in manners known in the art which cause itto reflect downwardly much of the infrared energy impinging on itsunderside, thereby contributing to a “greenhouse” effect. Suchreflectivity may be achieved by the use of films and coatings whichprovide unidirectional reflectivity. These films and coatings are wellknown in the art and are commonly applied to the windows of buildings todeter the entry of solar energy without preventing outward visibility.Mechanical, physical, molecular or chemical modifications of the filmmay also provide the appropriate reflectivity.

Lower film 16 is preferably opaque, absorptive of solar energy and ofrelatively high thermal conductivity. Lower film 16 may be provided witha material which will enhance its capability of absorbing solar energyto produce heat. Absorption-enhancing materials are well known andinclude carbon black, aluminum, copper and metal oxides. Lower film 16may be modified so that the heat generated by the incident solar energywill be transmitted readily through the thickness. A liquid, powder orfilm may be laminated to the surface of lower film 16, and/or metallicparticles may be added to lower film 16 to increase its thermalconductivity. Coatings and mixtures of powdered metals and metal oxides,as well as threads, filaments, filings and compounds placed on and/orlocated within lower film 16 may improve its thermal conductivity.Preferably, lower film 16 has a density for light absorption of aboutfifty percent such that about fifty percent of the light energy heatsthe surface and about fifty percent passes through for deep waterheating. This can be varied for specific use.

A typical outside diameter for heater 10 is sixty inches, although otherdiameters could be used to better accommodate pools of various size andshape. The small amount of open water 96 between heaters 10 is desirableas a small amount of direct sunlight is necessary to prevent growth ofundesirable alga such as mustard algae.

To prevent heater 10 from blowing away in high wind, outer ring 20 isfilled with water, or is at least partially filled depending on the windconditions, using valve 23. The weight of the water in outer ring 20holds heater 10 within pool.

For temporary storage of heaters 10 during use of pool 90, heaters 10may be stacked or may be hung by hangers 45. For long term storage andshipping, heaters 10 may be deflated by expelling air and water fromchamber 22 and cavity 52 out valves 23, 53 respectively. Heater 10 isspecifically designed for deflation by rolling from the edge oppositevalves 23, 53.

From the foregoing description, it is seen that the present inventionprovides an extremely simple, efficient, reliable, and passive floatingsolar pool heater which heats the pool during sunlight and reduces heatloss at other times.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustratedand described, various changes may be made in the form, composition,construction, and arrangement of the parts herein without sacrificingany of its advantages. For example, although heater 10 is shown ascircular in top view, it could have other shapes. Therefore, it is to beunderstood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrativeand not in any limiting sense, and it is intended to cover in theappended claims such modifications as come within the true spirit andscope of the invention.

1. A floating solar pool heater, comprising: an inflatable outer ringdefining a chamber for holding a fluid, the inflatable outer ringcomprising a first valve for controlling ingress and egress of the fluidwithin the chamber, a radially outward side, a radially inward side, atop, and a bottom; and an inflatable central portion disposed centrallywithin the inflatable outer ring, the inflatable central portioncomprising an upper film, a lower film joined to the upper film defininga cavity therebetween for holding a gas, a periphery connected to theinflatable outer ring along the radially inward side, and a second valvefor controlling ingress and egress of the gas within the cavity.
 2. Thefloating solar pool heater of claim 1, including a plurality of spotwelds disposed along the inflatable central portion connecting the upperand lower films.
 3. The floating solar pool heater of claim 2, whereinthe plurality of spot welds are disposed in a grid pattern.
 4. Thefloating solar pool heater of claim 1, including a plurality ofthrough-holes disposed along the inflatable central portion.
 5. Thefloating solar pool heater of claim 4, wherein the plurality ofthrough-holes are disposed near the periphery and in a center of theinflatable central portion.
 6. The floating solar pool heater of claim1, wherein the upper and lower films form both the chamber and thecavity.
 7. The floating solar pool heater of claim 1, including a hangerattached to the radially outward side.
 8. The floating solar pool heaterof claim 1, wherein the chamber and cavity are independently inflatable.9. A floating solar pool heater, comprising: an inflatable outer ringdefining a chamber for holding a fluid, the inflatable outer ringcomprising a first valve for controlling ingress and egress of the fluidwithin the chamber, a radially outward side, a radially inward side, atop, and a bottom; an inflatable central portion disposed centrallywithin the inflatable outer ring, the inflatable central portioncomprising an upper film, a lower film joined to the upper film defininga cavity therebetween for holding a gas, a periphery connected to theinflatable outer ring along the radially inward side, and a second valvefor controlling ingress and egress of the gas within the cavity; aplurality of spot welds disposed along the inflatable central portionconnecting the upper and lower films; and a plurality of through-holesdisposed along the inflatable central portion; wherein the upper andlower films form both the chamber and the cavity and wherein the chamberand cavity are independently inflatable.
 10. The floating solar poolheater of claim 9, wherein the plurality of spot welds are disposed in agrid pattern.
 11. The floating solar pool heater of claim 10, whereinthe plurality of through-holes are disposed near the periphery and in acenter of the inflatable central portion.
 12. The floating solar poolheater of claim 11, including a hanger attached to the radially outwardside.
 13. An inflatable solar pool heater, comprising: an upper film; alower film selectively bonded to the upper film; a first bond disposedbetween the upper and lower film along a radially outward side; a secondbond disposed between the upper and lower film along a radially inwardside; an inflatable outer ring defining a chamber formed between thefirst and second bonds; a first valve disposed along the inflatableouter ring for controlling ingress and egress of a fluid; an inflatablecentral portion defining a cavity formed within the second bond; and asecond valve disposed along the inflatable central portion forcontrolling ingress and egress of a gas; wherein the cavity and chamberare independently inflatable.
 14. The floating solar pool heater ofclaim 13, including a plurality of spot welds disposed along theinflatable central portion connecting the upper and lower films.
 15. Thefloating solar pool heater of claim 14, wherein the plurality of spotwelds are disposed in a grid pattern.
 16. The floating solar pool heaterof claim 13, including a plurality of through-holes disposed along theinflatable central portion.
 17. The floating solar pool heater of claim16, wherein the plurality of through-holes are disposed near the secondbond and in a center of the inflatable central portion.
 18. The floatingsolar pool heater of claim 13, wherein the upper and lower films formboth the chamber and the cavity.
 19. The floating solar pool heater ofclaim 13, including a hanger attached to the inflatable outer ring alongthe radially outward side.
 20. The floating solar pool heater of claim13, wherein the lower film comprises an absorption-enhancing materialcomprising carbon black, aluminum, copper or metal oxide.